Today's hyperscale data centers run on agile connections, and high-speed data transfer is essential for smooth operations. But another important connectivity need is growing in data centers around the world.
Although most data center operations are fully automated, technicians must visit the facility regularly to repair outages, perform upgrades, and perform ongoing maintenance. With the popularity of the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend, many of these technicians rely on their mobile network operator's 5G mobile services to communicate and access technical support while working in data centers. doing.
Additionally, more hyperscalers are relying on Internet of Things (IoT) devices that use 5G connectivity for measurement and environmental monitoring. The near-ubiquity of 5G technology is rapidly changing the way we stay connected in the modern economy, with 5G subscribers expected to reach 8 billion worldwide by 2028, up from around 1.4 billion today. It is predicted.
However, most 5G networks use the mid-band or higher radio frequency (RF) spectrum and are easily blocked by modern energy-efficient building materials, furniture, interior walls, and mounted equipment racks. When RF signals from the outside are blocked, mobile connectivity within a building can become unstable or even not connect at all. This can result in dropped connections or missed important calls, and prevents maintenance technicians from quickly connecting to support personnel, emergency services, or online troubleshooting resources.
Ultimately, without widespread connectivity within a building, data center operators risk extended service outages and failure to meet service level agreement (SLA) goals. How can operations teams provide secure and reliable mobile coverage across their data center facilities to ensure seamless voice, data, and IoT connectivity?
Keep up with evolution
Advances in mobile technology continue to change the way networks are built and operated. As demand for 5G services increases, new RF spectrum is being added to provide greater coverage and bandwidth. In addition to the higher millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies originally allocated to 5G, mobile network operators are now using new mid-band frequencies such as C-band and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).
Mid-band 5G frequencies offer significantly more capacity for outdoor wide area networks due to their larger channels compared to traditional mobile technologies. Unfortunately, these wide RF channels have shorter signal propagation ranges and consume more radio output power, reducing the overall coverage area and resulting in poor connectivity within the building. This need is even more important for data centers located in remote locations where outdoor mobile services may be lacking.
To give operations teams ready access to multi-operator mobile services, hyperscale data centers often install Distributed Antenna System (DAS) equipment within the building. DAS platforms connect to signal sources from a variety of mobile network operators and provide in-building connectivity for IoT devices, emergency response radios, and data center operations teams, including server rooms, operations centers, and mechanical closets. But even data centers with existing DAS platforms will need to upgrade and reconfigure their legacy equipment to support the new 5G spectrum and accommodate fluctuations in signal propagation at those frequencies. there is.
Realizing a sustainable tomorrow
In 2022, U.S. data centers used more than 4% of the country's total electricity, and that number is projected to reach 6% by 2026. As data demand continues to skyrocket, data center operations teams are faced with the challenge of increasing capacity and performance. At the same time, it reduces power consumption and operating costs. Rapid innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) has made this goal increasingly urgent, driving a critical need for powerful computing infrastructure that requires far more energy than traditional data centers. Masu.
This means that power consumption is an important factor to consider when choosing the best DAS system for data center connectivity. Indeed, overall sustainability is essential as hyperscalers strive to achieve aggressive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals and achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
The modular DAS platform allows you to quickly and efficiently upgrade as technology evolves, updating only the components needed to continue meeting industry demands. This eliminates the need for a complete “rip and replace” project and reduces waste. Similarly, his DAS platform, with its small, lightweight, and energy-efficient components, consumes fewer resources during manufacturing and shipping as well as during operation.
Delivering fiber to the edge
Hyperscale data center operators already have access to large amounts of fiber infrastructure throughout their buildings and campuses. Leveraging fiber-to-edge technology, DAS platforms use fiber connections to carry voice and data to the edge of the network, improving quality of service and reducing dropped calls. The extremely high bandwidth and data speeds enabled by fiber-to-the-edge enable superior in-building connectivity.
Data transmission over fiber optics has the potential to improve data security across networks. However, despite the common fiber infrastructure, DAS is a standalone system that has no contact with the data center's network, thus ensuring maximum security. Additionally, fiber-to-edge DAS is easier to install and maintain than traditional coaxial cable, and can keep up with technology advances by adding capacity with simple upgrades and supporting the latest network transformations.
mission-critical connectivity
With stringent SLA targets and service requirements of up to 99.999% uptime, today's data center operators rely on optimal efficiency and agility to remain competitive and profitable. Reliable, real-time mobile communications access allows data center technicians to stay connected when time is of the essence, keeping daily operations running smoothly today and tomorrow.
Doug Bierbower is Vice President of Solutions Engineering for SOLiD Americas. He has over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications field, including in-building wireless system design, optimization, technical support, and product management.